Reflecting signal



July 17, 1934. w RA N U 1,966,879

REFLECT ING S IGNAL Filed Nov. 3. 1932 2 Sheets- Sheet l AVAVAVAYNAY%V .,AAVAV INVENITOBS July 17, 1934. F. w. BRAUN ET AL REFLECTING S IGNAL Filed Nov. 3. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 17, 1934 BEFLECTING SIGNAL Frederick Wolfe Braun, Newark, and Sydney Sempliner, Hillside, N. J.

Application November 3,

'6 Claims.

Our invention relatesto new and useful improvements in automobile trafiic' warning reflecting signals, and pertains particularly to those devices which operate only after dark and only by the reflection and deflection of the light rays projected from the lights of a vehicle approaching the signal device.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a novel and improved device which will 30 warn a highway automobilist approaching an intersection, that another vehicle on another road is also approaching that intersection, and to indicate from which direction said vehicle is approaching. By the term intersection heretofore and hereafter used, we mean either a true intersection in which two roads cross at right angles, or where one road meets another in the form of a T or an L.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device of this character which can be inexpensively manufactured and which, although constructed of a relatively small number of parts, will operate most efliciently with practically no up-keep cost after the initial cost of the device itself.

With these general objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more particularly des ribed and claimed.

In the accompanyi d awings: I

Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent sectional and elevational views of one unit contained in the device, of which there are four in all as shown in Figure whereon one unit is designated-by the number '7. i

Figure 1' is a horizontal sectional view..

Figure 2 is an elevational view of one side,

' one side view suflicing inasmuch as an elevational 40 view of the opposite side would be exactly similar.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the entire assemblage.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the signal consists of a casing 5 having in adjacent sides thereof two openings 30 and 40 whose axes are disposed at approximately right angles to each other. Arranged within the casing and facing both of said 0 openings is a colored transparent body 1 which is preferably concavo-convex and has its convex side facing the openings 30 and 40. Also preferably this transparent or light-transmitting body has diamond cut facets especially on the convex side thereof. At the rear of the body 1 is ar- 1932, Serial No. 641,048

ranged a reflector 2 which diagonally faces the openings 30 and 40 at an angle of approximately 45 to the axes of said openings. Preferably the reflector is fiat, in abutting relation to the concave side of the body 1, and at approximately right angles to the axis of said body.

As shown in the drawings, clear white magnifying lenses 3 and-4 are arranged in the respective openings 30 and 40, said lenses preferably being piano-convex and having their convex sides facing outwardly. It is desirable that the convexity of these lenses correspond to the convexity of the transparent body 1.

Referring more particularly to Figure 4, the

stand 8 is of any suitable design conforming with the trafiic regulations of the particular state in which the device is to be used, and is shown here merely for the purpose of illustration. The globe light 6 is a flood light and is incidental and remote as respects the operation of the invention. The signal stands, for purposes of illustration, in the center of the intersection of the avenues 9, 10, 11, and 12. Four units are assembled together in the form of a square as shown at '7.

In Figure 1, upon the projection of any light, such as light from an automobile headlight, into the lens 4, the light is concentrated by the lens upon and penetrates through lens or transparent body-1 onto the mirror 2. The mirror 2 reflects the light it receives back through the lens 1 causing this lens to glow brilliantly. The brightness of the lens thus produced, is reflected through the magnifying glass 3 causing a brilliancy to be discernible clearly through glass 3. Since the glass 3 is at right angles to the glass 4, and since the mirror 2 extends diagonally on the 45 degree angle between the two, the light impulse ls'received on glass 4 and seen through glass 3. The convexity of the 1enses 3 and 4 prevents the light rays projected iron. the headlights of an automobile upon the lenses from being reflected back into the eyes of the driver of the automobile, so that dangerous glare from the headlights of an automobile facing the lenses is avoided. The lens 3 in a similar manner preo vents the red glow therein from being obliterated by light rays projected upon it from the head lights of an automobile facing it. The convexity of themagnifying lenses 3 and 4 also serves to enable the lenses to pick up the light rays from wide areas in front of the lenses, so that a can head not be in direct alignment with either lens in order to operate the device.

in Figure 4, we will suppose an automobile to be heading toward the signal on avenue 12. Two

lenses of the signal will receive the light impulse. Units 7 are assembled in such a manner that the resultant red brilliant glow will be seen by cars approaching the signal from both sides as on avenues 10 and 11. Furthermore, since two faces are in the field of view of these cars, and only the right face is lighted with relation to the car on avenue 11, and the left face is lighted with relation to the car on avenue 10, drivers of these cars immediately know that a car is approaching the device and is on the avenue 12 and not on the avenue 9. Likewise, since two cars are approaching the instrument on the avenues '10 and 11 in the case cited, the driver of the car on avenue 12 is apprised of the fact because two red brilliant glows are seen in the signal. Due to the construction and arrangement of the parts in each unit, the light rays from the headlights of an automobile. which are projected through any opening do not cause a red light to be reflected back to that automobile. Furthermore, the convexity of the magnifying lenses 3 and 4, Figure 1, prevents any glare, thus preventing a motorist from becoming confused. It will be observed that light rays entering either of the openings 30 or 40 will pass through the light transmitting device or lens 1 and then will be reflected again through the light transmitting device and outwardly through the other opening. In other words, the light which is projected outwardly through the openings passes through the light transmitting device, and the rays are therefore much more brilliantly .colored than would be the case if rays were passed through a colored screen in one of the openings and then merely reflected by the reflector through the other opening. The convexity of the device 1 prevents glare because the directions of incidence of different light rays striking the convex surface are different and are not coincident with the directions of reflection. The facets cause a diffused reflection so that the signal rays are brilliant and widely diffused so as to be clearly visible.

In Figure 4, it will readily be seen that the device must operate from eight faces to be effective. Since each of the units '7 operates from both its faces without confusion and at one time, the entire assemblage need only consist of four of these.

units.

Should the State laws prohibit the signal standing in the center of the intersection, then the four units 7, Figure 4, can be so spread apart from each other as to allow one unit to be set up on each of the corners of the intersection. The convexity of the magnifying glasses 3 and 4, Figure 1, permit of this by enabling the unit to pick up light rays it receives over a wide range. In this case, the flood light 6 could be dispensed with.

If the device is used on a T road or an L road, only the necessary number of units need be emplayed, 1. e.: on a T road, two units, on anL road, one unit.

Various changes in quality of material may be made, or changes in the form and proportion of the different details of construction of the several parts of the invention, without departing from the principles thereof or sacrificing any of the 8G advantages.

We claim:

1. A signal comprising a casing having two openings arranged with their axes at angles to each other, and a light reflecting device including a colored transparent concave-convex body having its convex surface facing said openings, and a flat reflector at the rear of said body and diagonally facing said openings so that light projected into one of said openings will pass through said body and be reflected therethrough outwardly from the other opening.

2. A signal comprising a casing having two openings arranged with their axes at angles to each other, and a colored concave-convex transparent body having light reflecting facets. said body being-disposed with its convex surface facing said openings, and a flat reflector at the rear of said body diagonally facing said openings so that light projected into one of said openings will pass through said body and be reflected therethrough outwardly. from the other opening.

3. The signal set forth in claim 2 wherein said reflector is flat and at right angles to the axis of said concavo-convex body. I

4. A signal comprising a casing having two openings arranged with their axes at angles to each other, and a light reflecting device including a flat reflector diagonally facing both of said openings, and a colored concavo-convex transno parent body with its convex surface facing both of said openings arranged closely in front of and with its axis at approximately right angles to the plane of said reflector.

5. A signal comprising a casing having two openings arranged with their axes at anglesto each other, and a light reflecting device including a flat reflector diagonally facing both of said openings, and a diamond cut faceted concavoconvex colored transparent body with its convex surface facing both of said openings, arranged closely in front of and with its axis at approximately right angles to the plane of said reflector.

6. A signal comprising a casing having two openings arranged with their axes at angles to 325 each other, and a light reflecting device including a colored transparent body having a convex surface facing said openings, and a flat reflector at the rear of said body and diagonally facing said openings so that light projected into one of said openings will pass through said body and be reflected there-through outwardly from the other p ing.

FREDERICK W. BRAUN.

SYDNEY SEMPLINER. 

